Snake In The Grass
About the Play
Miriam has cared for her father in the family home during his vituperative last years with the help of a creepily polite nurse, Alice. On Father’s death, Miriam’s older sister, handsome, divorced Annabel, comes home after over thirty years in Tasmania to find Daddy has left the bulk of his fortune to her. Alice complains to Annabel that Miriam has sacked her and is intent upon blackmail, having evidence, she says, that Miriam did away with the old man. Miriam and Annabel join forces against Alice and the blackmailer’s body is soon hurtling down the well, but all does not end there.
Snake In The Grass is produced by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals (Samuel French)
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
Snake in the Grass started out as a technical exercise and ended as a labour of love. The project was to find an intelligent and entertaining mystery play that didn’t have a boring box set, creaky old who-dunnit dialogue and would provide stellar acting opportunities for our club members. I think we did it! Snake is the middle play in Alan Ayckbourn’s trilogy “Things that go bump in the night”, an examination of the role of “ghosts” in the lives of the living. Is a ghost a physical manifestation of our lost loved ones or the imprint their personalities and actions have left on our lives? Time for you to decide…. . Many thanks to all of the NVCP members who made this show happen and special thanks to my talented cast who made my directorial debut such a joy.
– Mitchell Mackay
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
October is often a time of rain, wind, falling leaves and shorter days. A perfect time to be warm and cosy in an intimate theatre such as Hendry Hall. It is also a time of spooky darkness leading up to Hallowe’en and the play you are watching tonight should “fit the bill” nicely! We hope you will enjoy it and will come back to see our other productions as well as our “always sold out” Christmas Pantomime. If you would like to join into the fun on and off stage, please check out our website North Van Community Players, under the section Volunteer. We would love to have you aboard! – Sue Worrow
| Character | Played by |
| Annabel Chester | Pam Kearns |
| Miriam Chester | Jennifer Morabito |
| Alice Moody | Clare Froud |
| Director | Mitchell Mackay |
| Author | Alan Ayckbourn |
| Production Managers | Rosemary Hundal, and Sue Worrow |
| Stage Manager | Kathleen Denkewalter |
| Set Design | Mitchell Mackay |
| Set Construction | David Read, Nancy Read, James Ferguson, and Clive Sanders |
| Set Painting | Mitchell Mackay, and Robin Hilliard |
| Properties | Helen Dobric, and Solanges Santerre |
| Lighting Designer | Simon Drake |
| Lighting Assistants | Michael Morabito |
| Original Music and Sound Designers | Peter Zednik |
| Sound Consultants | Chris Wolfe, and Nigel Barker |
| Lighting and Sound Operator | Sandy Branning, and Amanda Langstroth |
| Special Effects Co-ordinator | Meghan McNeight |
| Costumes | Margaret Lee, Therese Smortchevsky, and Sharon Alexander |
| Make-Up | Leslie Whittaker |
| Graphic Artist | Linda Sharp |
| Publicity and Program | Anne Marsh |
| Front-of-House Coordinator | Clive Sanders |
| Box Office | Fran Heaney |
| Photographer | Gary Schwartz |
| Videographer | Chris Wolfe |
| Original Performance Dates | October 17 to November 1, 2014 |
| Venue | The Theatre at Hendry Hall, North Vancouver, BC |
| Production Length | 1 hour and 40 minutes |
| Production Style | Thriller |
| Special Thanks To | The dye and breakdown artists of Once Upon a Time, Barry Walker, Mountain Equipment Co-op (community room) |
| Mitchell Mackay | Director – Snake in the Grass is Mitchell’s directorial debut for NVCP. Mitchell began his association with the club as a Panto Dame, appearing in many productions, most recently as Dame Wanda Wave in last year’s hit production of Rapunzel. Recently Mitchell has moved into the area of set design, winning the Theatre BC North Shore Zone and Mainstage finals for his set for God of Carnage. This year, being the control freak he is, Mitchell has chosen to design and direct because as we all know, More is More! Many thanks to Peter, Simon, Kathleen and David, without whom this show could never have happened. Oh ya! And the cast too! |
| Pam Kearns | Annabel Chester – After her early years in the theatre at a small independent theatre school in Montreal, where she was fortunate enough to have performed in over 40 plays (including both classical and modern roles), Pam took a long break to focus on her family. In recent years, she has done a few plays, a pile of short films and studied in Vancouver with Actors Foundry, Jeb Beach, and The Practical Set Workout among others. Pam greatly looks forward to acting the role of Annabel in this fantastic play. The director, cast and crew are like a dream come true. Every project is a new adventure. Look out world! |
| Clare Froud | Alice Moody – Playing the part of Alice, Clare is delighted to be working with North Vancouver Community Players again. Clare has previously played the part of Suzie in The Amorous Prawn and Brenda Blue in last year’s pantomime Rapunzel. She would like to thank Mitchell for giving her this wonderful opportunity and to a fabulous, hard-working and talented cast and crew for making this experience so memorable. Hold onto your seats or your neighbour because you are in for a spooktacular time! |
| Jennifer Morabito | Miriam Chester – Jennifer is thrilled to be cast in this very spooky play, and is absolutely delighted to be sharing the stage with Pam and Clare. Selected roles include Violet Bradman in Blithe Spirit (First Impressions Theatre), Sultana in Aladdin (NVCP) Lucy in An Inconvenient Fish (Shadbolt Centre), Nan/Lina in Three Days of Rain (NVCP) and most recently Frank in Privates Eyes (First Impressions Theatre). Recent directing credits include The Kitchen Witches for NVCP, A Woman of No Importance for Two Gals Theatre Company and The Director for Presentation House Theatre. She has also had the pleasure of creating and co-ordinating NVCP’s new Salon Series of staged readings. Jennifer wishes to thank Mitchell, her cast mates and the whole production team for their unwavering support and splendid good humour. |